There are plenty of ways you can improve your veins in order to decrease the chance that you’ll develop varicose veins. If you do have varicose veins already, these remedies can also help to decrease the severity of your symptoms, and could very keep the varicose veins from getting worse and turning into a complicated health condition down the road.
To keep your veins healthy, the main thing to worry about is proper blood flow and circulation. Here are some best practices to improve your veins.
Stay Active
Movement is key to keeping your veins healthy. This includes everything from exercising in the gym to simply going for walks on a daily basis. The idea is to just keep your body moving. Walking and frequent exercise not only keep blood flowing in your legs, but it also helps with weight management which is another way to improve your veins. Excess weight adds pressure to your veins and that can lead to varicose veins.
If your job requires you to sit or stand for long periods of time, try setting an alarm for every 30 minutes to remind yourself to switch your position, i.e., stand up if you’ve been sitting for a long time, or sit down if you’ve been standing for a long time. Depending on where you work, if you can, go for a short walk just to get your blood flowing.
Eat Right
Your diet plays a huge role in the health of your veins. Ideally, you should follow a low-salt diet, which can help prevent any kind of swelling due to water retention. There are also certain foods that are known to increase blood flow.
If you suffer from varicose veins, or perhaps have a family history of varicose veins and want to do whatever you can to prevent yourself from developing them, it might be smart to fill up on these specific foods:
Cayenne pepper
Pomegranate
Onion
Cinnamon
Garlic
Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel
Beets
Turmeric
Leafy greens like spinach and collards
Citrus fruit like orange and grapefruit
Walnuts
Tomatoes
Berries
Ginger
Avoid Certain Clothing/Shoes
Clothing that is too restrictive can put pressure on veins and reduce blood flow. Stay away from anything that might be too tight around your waist, legs, or groin area. Wearing high heels for too long, or too frequently, can also affect your veins. Instead, stick to shoes with lower heels, which work your calf muscles more. Strong calf muscles lead to strong, healthy veins.
Compression Stockings
Compression stockings are elastic garments that are worn on the legs specifically designed to prevent or lessen the symptoms of varicose veins and other venous diseases such as edema, thrombosis, and phlebitis. Dr. Susan B Fox also recommends that their vein treatment patients wear compression stockings or socks after having a vein procedure done to maintain optimal results and to keep the varicose veins from worsening again.
The stockings or socks come in a variety of styles, colors, and materials. Some just cover the feet, while others extend to just below or above the knee. The material fits snuggly, but not too tight that it cuts off circulation. The point of these stockings is to improve blood flow by placing graduating pressure on the legs and/or feet, which helps the blood flow in the proper direction, from the feet and legs up to the heart. The compression from the material improves the functioning of the valves within the veins, reduces the diameter of the distended veins, and increases blood flow velocity without disrupting your daily lifestyle by any means. There is no pain or discomfort, and it won’t affect or hinder any movement.
The stockings are easy to put on and take off, and can be hidden underneath your regular clothing so no one even knows you’re wearing them. If you have questions about what kind of compression stockings to get, especially when it comes to sizing, the team at Fox Vein & Laser Experts is here to help. We will take measurements to ensure that you have just the right size so the stockings will work as effectively as possible.
There is no question about your veins that our team can’t answer. Call our office at 954-627-1045 to schedule a consultation. Meet with our expert medical team to learn more compression stockings and other easy ways to improve your veins.